Lawson Park Library was established by the artists'
collective Guestroom during the site’s extensive refurbishment in
2009 to become Grizedale Arts’ headquarters. Bespoke shelving, a
central reference table, and screen-printed wallpaper reflect ideas
of crossover and fluidity, based on a pattern of interacting lines
and colours.

Lawson Park’s buildings and grounds are now used as
a professional residency base and induction point for anyone
visiting and working with Grizedale Arts. The site is also used for
independent research purposes including archival, literary,
artistic, historical and horticultural research by a range of
visiting practitioners – whether visiting in groups or as
individuals.

The best way to familiarise yourself with our
interests, influences, history and expertise is to visit Lawson
Park and to browse the library shelves in person. When this is not
possible, this website provides an opportunity to view the material
included, and to read and view as much as we are able to make
available online.

The books and films in Lawson Park library are grouped
into broad, contingent categories that continue to evolve. They are
included on the basis of the same policy that informs the Design
Collection: They might relate to our projects, reference ideas that
have contributed to our ethos, be intended to generate conversation
or to inform and suggest avenues for future projects and
research.

We also have a large collection of instructional
booksl, including many cookery books and a selection of
manuals, encyclopedias and D.I.Y guides covering architecture, art,
gardening, craft, clothing and medicine – all of which are included
not only for their brilliance in practical advice and application
to daily living at Lawson Park, but also for their capacity to
demonstrate the ways in which various practices and disciplines are
developing (or in fact, sometimes stagnating or vanishing).

Beyond this we receive a good number of books as gifts
from colleagues, friends and strangers. Whenever relevant these are
integrated - but due to limited space - only if their content to be
genuinely illuminating, or vitally useful.

We are always looking for new material to include, and
especially welcome suggestions for material that could further
diversify and radicalise our informal syllabus. We are also
interested in hearing about potential projects and collaborations
with other libraries, archives and estates. If you would like to
know more about the library, or suggest material you think we
should include, please be in touch with us at
info@grizedale.org.

The library will:

Instigate connections and relationships hitherto unrealised for
the benefit of reinvention